Table of Contents
Treatment
Treatment for Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A usually clears up on its own and does not require treatment. Patients should make sure to get plenty of rest and avoid drinking any alcohol until they are fully recovered.
Treatment for Hepatitis B
There are no medications for treating acute hepatitis B. Doctors usually recommend that patients get plenty of bed rest, drink plenty of fluids, and get adequate nutrition.
Many types of antiviral drugs are available to treat chronic hepatitis B. Not all patients with chronic hepatitis B require medication. Patients should seek the advice of an internal medicine doctor or specialist (a gastroenterologist, hepatologist, or infectious disease doctor) who has experience treating hepatitis B.
Patients with chronic hepatitis B should receive regular monitoring to evaluate any signs of disease progression, liver damage, or liver cancer. It is also important that patients with chronic hepatitis B abstain from alcohol as it may accelerate liver damage. Patients should check with their doctors before taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications or herbal supplements. Some medications (such as high doses of acetaminophen) and herbal products (kava) can increase the risk of liver damage.
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Review Date: 09/29/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, In-Depth Reports; Associate
Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician,
Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD,
MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
